Ohio Edison to Re-Power Coal Plant With Renewable Biomass

The EPA has announced that Ohio Edison (a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.) has agreed to re-power one of its coal-fired power plants with renewable biomass. The move is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the RE Burger Units 4 & 5, near Shadyside, Ohio, by 1.3 million tons per year, beginning in 2012: The move comes as the result of a Clean Air Act consent decree which required Ohio Edison to reduce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. Ohio Edison was given three options: Shut down the plant, install a scrubber system, or re-power with natural gas.

Those chose option four: Biomass. They'll still be able to use up to 20% low sulphur coal, but the switch to biomass for the rest of it will result in a serious drop in carbon emissions nevertheless.

Reductions from current levels of SO2 and NO emissions are expected to be as much 14,000 tons a year for the former, and 1,300 tons per year for the latter. Particulate emissions are expected to be reduce by 700 tons per year as well.